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Blogger Interview: The Tales Compendium

Hi my name is Jess and I love to read YA fiction. My love for YA fiction is made very easy as I work as a children's specialist in a bookshop. This will be a place for me to review those books. I also like to read the occasional adult book, generally chick lit or crime novels so you may find a few of those reviewed here as well. Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments as comments make me happy :)

About the Blog:

You can also find and follow a complete list of my reviews and such on my visual bookshelf page via Facebook

Interview:

1. How long have you been blogging?

Since January 2010

2. Why did you decide to blog?

Before I started, I already wrote a lot of reviews for my job as a children's specialist in a book store. One of the people I worked with had a blog and suggested I might want to try it out. I figured I already write the reviews, why not share them with everyone? My excitement can't be contained over new books and I love finding like-minded people out there who feel the same way.

3. What books do you blog about and why?

I blog about young adult fiction. I try not to focus too much on one genre as I like a lot of different things. I also try my best to get as many advanced reviews out there before publication as I can.

I like YA fiction because I think authors have to try harder when writing kids books because kids and teens are so easily distracted and can get bored so quickly. I get bored when I try to read adult literature because they take so long for something to happen. I don't know how grown up this makes me look but kids and YA books are just so much more fun!

4. What memes can be found on your blog?

I have a page where I list my all-time-favourite books and also a page for books that are coming soon with their release dates. I don't currently have a regular weekly meme. If I stumble across something interesting like movie news or a title that has just been announced then I will just post it straight away. I am mulling over a few different ideas for a weekly meme so keep your eye's open for something in the near future.

5. What is your review style like?

It's pretty straight forward. I talk about what I like about the book, what I don't like and why. I also make comments on bits and pieces that I think others will be interested in and comments on the book jackets. I will also often give age recommendations as well as compare the book to another I have read. I refuse to post spoilers. When I was younger, someone told me what happened at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before I finished it. I was so annoyed that the surprise was ruined for me, hence I don't post spoilers. If someone really wants to know what has happened, then they can email me.

6. If you can describe your blog in one word, what would it be and why?

Uncomplicated - because it is easy to navigate and find what you are looking for but still looks pretty and serves it's purpose.

7. What advice can you give other bloggers about blogging?

Blog as much as you can and be truthful about how you feel towards what you review (don't post what you think others will want to hear, post what you think).

8. What kind of promotion techniques do you use to get followers?

I post links to my reviews on places like Book Blogs and also comment on other peoples blogs if I like what they have said. I know that if someone posts a comment on mine then I will always check to see if they have a blog. Chatting with your fellow bloggers is the best way, there is such a fantastic online community and before I started my blog, I had no idea there were so many people around like me. I don't like saying to someone that I will follow them if they follow me. I want someone to follow my blog if they like what I review, not just because it means they get another number on their followers. In terms of promoting my blog in other places other than online, I have recently had bookmarks printed with my blog details on them and am working on getting them into bookshops.

9. If there was something you’d want your readers to take away from reading your blog, what would it be?

I'd hope they read a review for a title that they have 'ummed and ahhed' over for a while and my review makes them decide that they should go and read that book.

10. What can readers look forward to from your blog in the future?

A new weekly meme and plenty of advanced reviews.

Blogger Remarks:

Thank you so much, Jess, for participating in my Blogger Interview section. It's an honor to have you. Consequently, Jess did an Author Focus on me, which you can find out more about here. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Next week, I will be featuring Lynsey from Narratively Speaking.